Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has said that Turkey will open a second border crossing with Iraq, a sign of easing relations viewed with some concern by the United States, according to the Turkish Daily News.

"We see this in the direct interest of our country," he said, adding that work on the new crossing point could be completed in one or two years, he said.

Ankara supports a UN embargo imposed on Baghdad for its invasion of Kuwait that ignited the 1991 Gulf War, but has also maintained an illicit oil trade through a border gate with the Kurdish-held break away enclave of northern Iraq, according to the paper.

Turkey says it has lost more than $30 billion in trade with Iraq since the war.

In January, Ankara restored full diplomatic relations with Baghdad and has sent humanitarian and trade missions in recent months.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu will visit Baghdad on Sunday for two days.

Turkish plans to edge closer to Iraq have already disturbed the US administration.

Cem said Turkey took into consideration US sensitivities regarding Iraq but would act according to its own interests – Albawaba.com